SYDNEY – This semifinal game between the main FIBA Americas powers, the USA and Canada was never in doubt when the Americans jumped out to a quick 15-0 lead en route to a 83-43 to advance to the FIBA Women’s World Cup finals tomorrow night against China who held onto the win the other semi final.
Team captain Breanna Stewart led the charge getting most of her stat line in the first 8:54 minutes of the game collecting 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal during a USA 23-7 run. She finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists as the USA put the clamps on a Canadian team that reached their second FIBA World Cup semi final since 1986.
“It’s very important for us to be in these games,” said Canadian Head Coach Victor Lapena. “To play today, to play tomorrow. I am very happy. With all these games, they are important for us. Serbia, France, Japan they bring different styles. For our team we are looking towards the future, the next six, seven years. Today it was the semifinals against the USA. It is important for us to learn to compete for a medal.”
The USA (7-0) will enter tomorrow’s gold medal game for their 6th FIBA Women’s World Cup final since it started in 1986. They have won 29 consecutive games.
“Once Pool play was done then every single game was going to be tough,” said Stewart. “Our goal is to win a gold medal and we put ourselves in a position to have that be possible. I am really proud in just the way the team has grown from start to finish. Our work is not done. We have one more game, the biggest one of them all but we’ll be ready and we’re excited for tomorrow.”
“I was very pleased with our team’s attention to detail with the scouting report, “ said USA Women’s National Team Head Coach Cheryl Reeve as they held Canada to single digit scorers. “That was a priority win for us and as Stewie said, our goal is to win a gold medal and we’re in a position to do that.”
NOTES: A’Ja Wilson collected another double-double performance with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Kelsey Plum chipped in 14 points and Alyssa Thomas 10 points. All 11 USA players scored in the contest except for Kahleah Copper who sat out with a medical situation. She is tentative for tomorrow’s final.
The semi final between China and host Australia was a war as both teams entered the final two minutes tied 57-57 and then 59 each again with :46 remaining. Australia missed a shot with :22.3 left and then fouled China’s Siyu Wang hit the winning foul shots with :03.4 to give them the 61-59 win.
You could not tell who was the home team as both teams had a very vocal and loud audience of fans. You would have thought this was a road game for Australia. This was China’s second appearance in the FIBA World Cup semi finals as they faced host Australia which entered tonight’s semi final against host Australia. In their last semi final meeting in 1994 China defeated host Australia 66-65 to make the finals.
